Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-16
LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY.

| LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY.
Bill Nye Encoanter. . whiR Of Clover and
| Wild Thyme from the Couatry.
A Josh Whitcomb-looking old gen.
| tleman sat most of the day yesterday
on . seat in the open lot commonly
i called Union Square. He had his ha,
off SO that the zephyrs Of spring could
zeph through his late hair and his fee,
were drawn up into the legs of his
boots where they could swell on almos,
indefinitely if they felt better that
way.
He was dressed plainly and he car
ried with him an emaciated Oil-cloth
grip that had no doubt put in a long.
hard winter. He watched this bag 81
closely that he did not have much time
to commune with nature or enjoy the
broad and beautiful sweep of country
which extends lOngitudinally from
Fourth avenue to Broadway. merry
and musical with its myriads of song
birds. The twitter of the silvery-
voiced sparrow and the tropical. dark
red notice to keep of the grass" did
not seem to calm him or soothe his
anxiety.
l drew near and engaged him in con-
versation. Nothing gives me greater
pleasure than to make strangers in New
York as comfortable as possible while
here so that they will feel like coming
again frequently and doing their trad
ing here. believe that this is the only
true waysto build up town.
He said that where he stopped they
wanted to take his valise and give him
a check for it, but he would rather have
the grip than any check he had seen
here yet. He had taken one check al
ready in making change with party
day before yesterday and there wasn't
a bank in town that would cash it for
him.
1.-The trouble is here" said he.
''that every induccment is held out to
prevent man from getting acquaint-
ed, and then when he wants to get
check. or post-office money order, or
any thing else cashed. they tell him he
has got to identify himself. Now the
only man that I've had any dealing
with is the man that give me this check.
and l can't find him. I've seen pretty
near every body else. but haven saw
him. yesterday or to-day. l hadn't
nny thing else much to do yesterday
and SO l thought I'd kind of make it
my business to look him up. Invent
over to the post-oflice about ten O. clock
yesterday morning and watched all day
for him, because was pretty tolerable
sure he'd be down after his mail before
night, but if he got his mail at all that
guess l wouldn't care to give up my
sachel to Tom, Dick and Harry and
take a check for it. Checks are all
right in their place, but this is no place
for checks
The style of the old man was so
that sat and talked with him
a long time. for l thoroughly enjoyed
him, and it seemed relief for him to
have somebody to talk with. He told
me where he lived and how different
his home life was from ''this hurry and
rush and crush and cussedness on every
hand;" how he went to bed as soon as
the chores We're done and slept like
top, but here he couldn't sleep nights
with so much hurrah and Fourth of
July going on in the streets.
He aimed to 90 home tomorrow, he
said, but had overplayed himself by
cashing that blamed check. He had
another check of his own, but he
" balled up as quick as he tried to
get that cashed, for the same old rea-
son that he could not be identified.
He said he was Il man in his own !
town that every body knew. Even
the papers had said that che was !
thoroughly identified with the growth
Of the place." and now he couldn't be
identified to save his life.
The check which he had originally
was one that he had folded up very
small and in various ways till it was
pretty grim and smelled like fried
pork, but it had an honest air about it
that even ten-dOllar check may
wear. l knew that l could, with
slight trouble, get identified myself,
md so l took the paper off his hands,
liter he had Endorsed it. He was very
grateful, and wrung my hand in a
warm. enthusiastic way that repaid
ne well tor the slight favor had done
linl.
One advantage of being a man with
'lenty of means is the great chance
hus offered for doing favors for those
Who need them and who are grateful
md appreciative. i
My friend did not seem TO want to
cave me. but at last told him that l
would have to 90 down the street to
zee how my affairs were shutting along.
He shook my hand warmly, which l
lid not feel very distinctly, for it was
till paralyzed from the. first mani
estation; then he told me I must come /.
Up and see him this summer and STAY ,
Il